Do you find yourself craving comfort foods these days? What’s behind the phenomenon...

If you’re having a hard time sticking to a healthy diet right now, blame mother nature...

We humans in this part of the world are craving calorie-dense comfort food at this time of the year. That’s because lighter fresh fruits and vegetables were historically less available during the winter, which helped us develop an inherent preference for foods that are in season. Starchy foods and those with sugar, fat and carbs were not only easier to come by in the old winter days - they still feel better going down than what’s not in season. A crisp, cool salad or refreshing fruit will naturally taste better with the sun is shining and the weather is warm.

It’s okay to comfort yourself with some hearty soups and stews - just be sure to throw plenty of vegetables in there and avoid adding high-fat meat or cream-based sauces.